Snow in South Louisiana.

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South Louisiana is known for hot summers and mild winters. We have blistering heat and high humidity. Our water table or sea level is about 35 feet below my house. We have rivers running through almost everywhere. The only state that has bigger misquitoes is Alaska. We have alligators, bobcats, muskrats, beavers, nutra rats and crawfish. And all of those animals have recipes for them. I’m joking, except for the alligators and crawfish. South Louisiana is called Bayou Country. The French Acadians came to Louisiana when there was nothing but bayous and misquitoes. They settled here and populated the state. I’m French and Irish. My french family settled in North Louisiana. Then moved to Lafayette.

All my life the weather patterns have changed drastically. If we had a cold winter, we had hurricanes in the summer. If it was a mild winter, then we had a blistering heat in the summer. I can remember days that were 100 degrees with 100% humidity and it wasn’t raining. Louisiana is a green state, beautiful oak and magnolia trees everywhere. So to my surprise, when an arctic storm to come through from Texas to Georgia.

As I am writing this, it is 12 degrees Fahrenheit with about 10 inches of snow on the ground. The last time that I saw cold and snow like this was when I was 8 years old in 1957. Everything is white and beautiful. The snow will stay for another 2 days. It is suppose to warm up to 70 degrees this weekend. Which means all the snow will be gone. Life changes every day. Nothing remains the same. This is the true test of life. If you can survive the change. This is a challenge that everyone faces. And not everyone survives.

I struggled when this change until I couldn’t go on. I was about 28 years old. Some dear friends lead me to the truth. I couldn’t survive the changes in my life without one person changing my life for the better. Of course, I am talking about Jesus and His life changing ways. I gave in and decided His way was better than mine. I have never regretted that decision. Whatever the weather does outside, my life is set on achieving one goal. That goal is to make it to heaven and to live with God, my Father and Jesus, my older Brother, forever.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

What do Other People see?

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Perception is an important tool in our arsenal. It is not just what we see, but it is what we understand. It is easy not to see what the truth is and make a mistake. Perception is tricking if you don’t know what you are looking at. It is like the old saying, don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Whether it is a person, place or thing. We have to get to know who or what is there, personally. Sometimes it is hard to do that and people just give up on trying. And in that moment they make a judgment call, whether it is right or wrong. The strangest thing is that man believes that his perception of himself is right. Sometimes it is true, but I think it is just bravado.

You know what is funny(interesting) is that other people can see us for who we are. They can see the real us faster than we can. There is a real reason for that. What they see in us is a reflection of themselves, whether good or bad. Everyone says that they are an individual. They are unique in this world. It is true that we are individuals, but we are more similar to each other than we want to acknowledge. Cultural differences make us unique, not different. And just because of the pigment of our skin, it does not mean that we are not the same. We are born, we live and we die. There is no difference. We are not going to get along with everybody, but we can at least try to understand who they are. So that we can have a better perception of who we are.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The Value of Age.

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As a person gets older, it is expected that wisdom follows. Wisdom is a combination of experience and knowledge. There is a famous saying, that has been written on many walls, knowledge is power. But the sad part of that saying is that knowledge is not power. It is knowledge (understanding) + experience = wisdom, then it is wisdom applied that equals power. As a young man so many things were handed to me. First, my parents paid for my college tuition and books. All I had to do is work for spending money. I worked at a burger place on campus. All the social things got in the way of my college education and I failed. If that was not enough, it was the height of the Vietnam war. And I was #41 in the draft. I did not learn what I was supposed to. It was not the college work, it was the living skills.

I fumbled around for a few years, until I decided that I was going to get my life on tract for success. Once I became focused on living up to my potential, I began working toward that goal. It took hard work and many hours to get wisdom in my life. I did not succeed in all my endeavors. But the ones that I did succeed in were great. I truly believe that the failures keep a person balanced in life. If all you have is success, where is the growing part of your life? It is true that we grow in all our failures or completely fail.

It took a lot of wisdom to keep me from becoming bitter about life. I had to apply the wisdom I had learned to keep my on track. All of my paths were lonely. I alone had to figure out what was the best way for me. I had to struggle against myself to accomplish my goals. This is how we succeed.

I worked retail for 35 years. Then I began to write. I have always wanted to write, even when I was young. I have written 5 books so far. Only published one and had one on Kindle. I have been blogging for 9 years, Joseph1637.com. It has been very interesting. I even had one blog go viral. It was Disconnect 1.0. It went around the world. I had comments from most every country, starting in Europe, to the Middle East, then Asia, then Australia and back to America. There were over 15,000 comments in one month. I have followers in China, Europe, South America and North America. Success is relative. But I have enjoyed the success that I have received. I understand, just like the roman generals after their victories that paraded in Rome, Glory is Fleeting.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The Will of God.

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The bible says that Jesus made everything including earth. After God set everything up and gave it to man, man rejected God. It was by God’s will that the earth and mankind be made to share with Him all that God has. God has continually tried to bring man back into the fold. God has not given up on mankind. But mankind has given up on God. Ever since Adam and Eve received the knowledge of good and evil, man has declared his godhood. He can do what ever he wants. The only problem with that is that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Then mankind does not have the power to correct his mistakes. In which they lead to death and destruction. That is why there is so much devastation in this world.

God has from the beginning intervened in the affairs of man. He has tried and with some success, helped man to create a stable world to live in. It is funny, interesting, that man knows and proclaims who the devil is. But is unwilling to confess the same for God. In 1982, a US Congressman, who was dying of cancer, tacked a bill on the wall of Congress for anyone to sign. This bill would proclaim that 1983 was the Year of the Bible in the US. It didn’t go through any committee or any debate. It was just up to the Congressmen and Senators to sign if they wanted it to become law. Well it passed and the President Reagan signed into law. It was the first time in 2000 years that any government had acknowledged God. The GNP for the US increased by 100% over the passed 20 years. People became wealthy by the will of God.

The bible is a written history of what God has said and done for mankind. In every case, those people who did the will of God have prospered. And those who did not, fail in their efforts. We ,with free will, have to decide if we are going to do the will of God. God did not make His will complicated. He made it simple for man to follow. But we have to decide what we are going to do. I would ask you and implore you to follow God. This is the only way that we will succeed in this life and in the world to come. Yes there is another world. It only has two place to go to. There are heaven, God’s home, and hell, the devil’s home. God does not send anyone to hell. Anyone who goes to hell has to choose to go there. Although God is sovereign with all power to do anything, we have to choose where we are going after death on this earth. God’s will is there for anyone to choose. And I highly recommend to follow God home to heaven.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

A Charlie Brown Christmas…

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Charles Schulz, Sparky, wrote the Charlie Brown series. He was an avid Christian. In his early years, he had applied at the Disney Studios but was told his drawings were too primitive. Charles always said that he was Charlie Brown growing up. His comic strip became very successful. In 1965, Sparky produced a television show, A Charlie Brown Christmas. The show is about Charlie Brown being depressed about Christmas and the commercialism. At first, the television executives didn’t want to air the show, but they didn’t have anything to put in it’s place. A Charlie Brown Christmas show aired on CBS on December 9th, 1965 in prime time.

During the show, Charlie Brown asked if anybody knew what Christmas was all about. His friend Linus began to quote Luke 2:8-14, the Christmas story.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Several things happened that night, 50% of all television viewers were watching the Charlie Brown Christmas show. This was the first time it ever happened on television. The show was the first cartoon show to preach the gospel and it has aired on television ever since. Charles Schulz knew that Jesus was why we celebrate Christmas. And he was able to preach the gospel in his own way. So if you are depressed about Christmas watch the Charlie Brown Christmas show and see what he discovered. It is the Jesus is life itself and we don’t need to be depressed about our lives. For God so loved the world that He gave us Jesus.

Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

What do You see?

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In high school, my professor teased us saying that we had myopia, near sightedness, for not seeing or understanding what he was talking about. It’s Christmas time again and we are singing Christmas carols. Just like the angels sang to the shepherds watching the sheep in the fields around Jerusalem over 2000 years ago. I want to ask you a question, what did they see? Then when Gabriel announced Jesus and told the shepherds to go to Bethlehem, what did they see? When Mary, Joseph and Jesus stayed in Bethlehem and the Magi (Wise Men) came and found Jesus, what did they see? When John and Andrew heard John the Baptist point at Jesus and say, behold the Lamb of God that takes the sins of the world away, what did they see? When Jesus called Peter to ask if they had fish. Peter said that they didn’t have anything. Jesus said to throw their net over the side and it filled with fish. Then Peter jump over the side and swam to Jesus. When he did, what did he see?

When the Roman Centurion who had crucified Jesus and watch Him die, said truly this is the Son of God. What did he see? After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to the Apostles and spoke to Thomas, saying place your hand in My side and in My hand. What did he see?

Now it’s over 2000 years later and the world is rolling along. We look at this world and wonder how long before it all blows up in our face. You look and look, then I ask you, what do you see? The bible says that you must first believe, then you will see. And if you see the truth of God, what are you going to do about it?

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

What do You know?

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As most of you know that I have lived a long time. I have seen things come and go. And have recognized many patterns to life. Some of them are good and some well, they come and go. I have see things that are good go by the wayside. And some things couldn’t leave too soon. When I graduated from high school, my parents and I bought the ugliest suit you have ever seen. It’s was a graduation gift. Now the wing tip shoes they brought with the suit, I liked. I don’t think the shoes ever went out of style. I have seen many men wear them throughout my life. I never wore polyester shirts or bell bottom jeans. But I did have crew cut hair that I put Dippety Do hair gel into it. That was quite a sight.

I have served in war and seen my sons go off to war. I seen my babies born and held them for the first time and cried. My wife had them all Caesarean section. And I was even in the operating room. And now they have babies. Growing up my family would gather at one of our houses for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter. That was a blessed time, but I didn’t realize it at the time. Then my family began to die. My grandmother and her sister first. Then my parents went. My aunts and uncles then passed on. My older and younger brother have since died. And I now find myself the patriarch of my family and feel alone. My early years with my family call to me and I remember those times.

Christmas is a special time of year for families. If you neglect your family during this time, you are doing damage to yourself and your family and friends. Sometimes this damage can’t be reversed. I have had to swallow my pride and reach out to my family just not to be alone. Even if they were wrong. I have never been perfect. I have tried to a decent life for my sake and others. But Christmas sometimes overwhelms me with memories. Press through the loneliness and reach out to your family, because one day they will be the patriarch of the family and remember the good times and the bad.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Pearl Harbor Day – What does it take to go to war?

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I served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam war. I went to basic training like everyone else. I went on to advanced training school. Then I was assigned to my post. I left home not knowing what to expect. Even when I was at my post, I still did not understand what it took to go to war. The basic training I received was just that. It was the basic knowledge of being in the military. Training for war was more of advanced than that. Also the knowledge of war or the understanding of that knowledge had to be experienced. I was stationed state-side for my tour in the Air Force. Three of my sons served in the Iraqi and Afghanistan war. Two came back with PTSD. They all understood what it took to go to war. They had experienced the trauma of war. It’s been 15 years since they served and are coping with the understanding of war.

War is not natural to man. It goes against everything that we are. It takes a little bit by bit of our heart each time anyone serves in the front lines. But it is a conscious decision on our part to go to war. It is not surprising that many people choose not to go to war. There are cost to war. The bible says that before a king goes to war, he sits down and counts the cost. To see if he is able to wage the war and win. If not he sues for peace. This comes from an understanding of war.

Jesus calls us to be good soldiers to put on the armor of God to fight the enemy. Many people when they first start with God are on fire and press against the enemy. I have watched them falter and stop their fight with the enemy. The cost became to high for them. They saw and understood the cost of war. Jesus fought the fight everyday. He did not stop just because the devil was pressing in on Him. People say He is God and can do that. Jesus proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that man can live righteously on this earth. He was a man was all the frailties. The bible says that Jesus learned obedience by things which He suffered. God’s call to man comes with many promises. These promises can be had if we stand up and press into God. It all depends on what you decide to do. Whether to go to war and follow Jesus or not. Yes it does cost us everything we have, our life. But once you have given your life, what else can the enemy take from you? He can’t take anything from you because God has promised.

I saluted all the men and women who have served their country with honor. Some paid the ultimate price. But all gave their lives to serve with duty and honor. God bless you all.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

It’s Christmas Season again.

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Black Friday is today and Cyber Monday is to come. In my many years in retail, my favorite time of year has always been Thanksgiving. People would come into the store with a smile. It is because Thanksgiving as apposed to Christmas, is a time about friends, family and food. There is always too much food and discussions about anything and everything. Unfortunately, Christmas has become commercial. Tis the season to spend all the money you have to try and stay up with your family or neighbors expectations. The real reason for Christmas seems to be shoved aside. Usually for unnecessary things that don’t last more than a few months. I know that businesses have been trying to recover from the Covid pandemic. It seems that the thought of the gift is not as important as the price. Which makes it very hard to give to people. As I have gotten older, I see the value in the thought of the gift, than the price.

My maternal grandmother, after granddaddy died, lived on Social Security. She lived on $125/month. My mom and her two sister’s helped her with the bills. When it came to Christmas, my grandmother had this inner sense of what to get her grandchildren. Her gifts were never expensive, but she knew what to get for us. She would give gifts that were tailor made for us. She was always amazing. She could make cookies faster than anyone I knew. Yes, I loved my grandmother. She was a real blessing in my life. And I miss her very much. I miss my whole family.

Christmas started as a point in time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. He really was born in the springtime, right before Passover. In Israel, winter is the rainy season and no one can travel around the countryside with any ease. Caesar called for the taxation in the springtime allowing everyone to travel to the cities of their birth. When Jesus was born, there was much celebration. Western culture chose December 25th as the date of Jesus’ birth. Saint Nicholas lived in the 3rd and 4th century. His was a bishop of Patara in Asia Minor. He would give food and gifts to the children. This is where the custom of Christmas began. In Holland, Saint Nicholas day in celebrated. He is called Sinterklaas. Translated into English, it is Santa Claus.

Christmas has never been about gift giving. It has always been about giving of yourself to others, your time, your attention and yes your money. Saint Nicholas never sought gifts in return. He did it out of the love in his heart for Jesus. This is what Christmas is about. Find someone that you know that can’t return a gift and give yourself instead. And be blessed in this season of giving love to one another.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I msut be about My Father’s business.

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For thousands of years, before colleges were commonplace, people would apprentice with their fathers or mothers. If a father had a business, the son and sometimes the daughter would join their father to learn the business. The child would apprentice for years. It would depend on how intricate the works was. Jesus apprenticed with His father, Joseph, as a carpenter. Jesus was called a carpenter. And so it was for many sons and daughters. Usually the daughters were taught home economics by their mothers. This is why so many wives and mothers were in charge of the money for the business.

When Jesus was 12 years old, Joseph and Mary decided to take Him to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. When the caravan was ready to leave Jerusalem after Passover, Joseph and Mary joined their family and left Jerusalem. They thought that Jesus was with the other children playing. The caravan traveled a day journey and Joseph and Mary began looking for Jesus. When they didn’t find Jesus, they immediately returned to Jerusalem. On the third day, they found Jesus in the Temple listening and asking questions to the doctors of the Law. This is what Mary said to Jesus and His reply.

“And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Luke 2:48-49.

The question wasn’t only to Joseph and Mary, it is directed at us. The bible says that Jesus submitted to His parents and return home. Where He grew in wisdom and statue and in favor with God and Man. What Jesus was asking, if we understood that the Father’s business in our business. And the we must be about that business. You see we are God’s apprentices. Therefore we must be about our Father’s business.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com